citymariner

I think Mark Bass do one, iirc.

Hello all, Great come back to the forum after work to see these messages. The cab I'm using it with is a MB Traveller 102p - so this can't be the problem! Fuses haven't blown and I tried a couple of different power cables and still nada out of the amp. I always plug my amp into a surge protector when at a venue - too many dirty power supplies out there due to adding on to the ring endlessly. I am incredibly disappointed but confident that this is a mere glitch in my membership of the MB club! Popping it back to Electromusic at the weekend. I've been using them for 15 years now and have faith in them sorting me out. They have personally offered to supply me with another amp in the time being. I've never had anything but great service from those guys. Onwards and upwards - let's face it even if the rig doesn't work, it looks purdy. Thanks for the responses! Much appreciated!

Thanks xgsjx, that is reassuring. I guess with anything electronic (bar adding any additions such as water/ dust etc.) that if it is going to go, it is going to quickly. Going to give Electro a ring this morning to get it sorted. It's such a shame, I've had a head pop before and it meant I was nervous using the fixed (and never to fail again) gear for gigs. Last thing you want when you've got a performance to deliver. I got called lookout by one band member because I had my eyes on over my shoulder a lll the time at my input gauge. Onwards and upwards hey!

20mins into practice tonight my mark bass lm3 went pop. Gain at 9 and output on the second dot and was more than holding it own. At first it just cut out - no clipping at 9am gain with a passive bass - and turning it off then allowed it come back. A few minutes later the same again however this time the amp would not turn on at all. I am gutted. The serial plate shows October 2013- it's bought from new so I know I can get a replacement but I can't believe it has popped! Are there any known issues with the mark bass little mark stuff. I've spent the extra wonga to buy into reliability and quality. Got to say though- it sounded absolutely ball shaking good before it cut out. Guess I'll be giving Electromusic a ring tomorrow.

Many thanks for your comments. I've currently played with everything at 12 and quite liked the tone. I'll have a play in a bit with the VLE/VPF knobs turned off (fully Anticlockwise). The majority of stuff will be with my DB however I have a P and a J that I feel will need only small tweaks on the head to get me to that nice place, you know, the one where your bass sound sends you all funny. Haha. I'm gonna see how the rig gets on with the band and then I'll consider an extension cab. I've been told I will not need one though - even with a noisy drummer! Another 102p is appealing though. The one thing I love about the rig is how compact it is, especially as I'm playing DB more and more. The head I'll be able to fit in a flight case with my cables and couple of pedals. Fewer trips to the car and less KGs are alway welcome!

Just chopped in my Ashdown Klystron head and cabs for a MB LMIII and a traveller 102p. Absolutely love it and with me playing double bass and electric bass it is replicating both instruments beautifully! Now, I can't wait to get it out at rehearsal tomorrow. Any tips and trips - hidden EQ combos etc. I'm happy to listen. However, I'm playing through it flat at the moment and it sounds lush!

I like the concept of the show as well as the bass!

Scales - when I first started playing I wanted to make sure my ear was working hard to effect what my hands were doing. Even practicing I, III and V traids helped a lot and got me moving between and along strings. Handy as a warm up initially. I too wanted fret lines, a pain stakingly cut thin slithers of electrician tape and created my own, they then fell off as my hand moved up the fretboard. At present, I have a sticker to show me where G, C, F, Bb are. I stomp on my tuner hit a C, then the octave and then the 5th before playing to prove to myself I have the confidence to find the notes! I used to keep a clip on tuner (stark jobby) on the bridge so I could constantly check. I found I wasn't interacting with the audience but staring at letters changing on a screen! Create backing tracks (I use garageband) and practice different routes through scales - you discover you naturally want to find different 'walks' to take and almost by osmosis finding what works and what doesn't. It's certainly built up a nice bank of phrases allowing me to jam at open mic nights etc. If you are slapping and finding your fingers are hurting, don't jump straight for £100s worth of strings - it does take time for your fingers to adjust. Mine blistered terribly on my right hand, especially the middle finger. Germoline rubbed into the fingers before or after is brill - it saved me from taping my fingers which, in my opinion, takes the feeling away.

Congrats on your first gig. I'd love to play my DB for the whole set but I don't have the stamina for some of our songs - and if I am playing something that tends to 'wow' the crowd I want to get it right! Love playing DB to the point of finding fretted bass almost restrictive!

Many thanks all for your replies. I think the PlatPro is a starting point. I'm sure I can always flog on etc. if needs be. [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1373288152' post='2135650'] My first two years of DB have taught me that there is every bit as much choice in the DB world as in the electric bass world, but that being DB stuff it is always FAR more expensive. It follows that you need to think things through pretty carefully. Your band is "unplugged" but how loud is it? If you still manage to be loud then maybe a magnetic pickup is the way to go, but if you're at acoustic levels then piezo may well be better. Do you have backline? If you're running your DB through your own amp then that sends you in one direction, if you're going through the PA only then that could be different. I have both the Fishman Platinum Pro and the new Radial Stage Bug. Chalk & cheese. The Bug is a one-trick pony ... it's tiny, built like a tank, very simple to use, sounds awesome, but can only be used if you're going through the PA. It's also cheap. The PlatPro is a general purpose tool ... large, rugged but still plastic with bits you can break off, has knobs and switches and functions, can sound great if you get it right but can also screw up your sound, but is extremely flexible & you'll always find some way to use it if you need it. It's also (very) expensive. [/quote] I do run a backline but it goes through the PA too. As I run a cross between DB and EB during the gig. One band is unplugged the other is not so I need something really for the non-unplugged (or plugged) band. [quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1373289002' post='2135679'] [url="http://www.fishman.com/product/pro-eq-platinum-preampeqdi"]Fishman Plat Pro Plus[/url] [url="http://www.kksound.com/products/bassmax.php"]K&K Bass Max[/url] You, sir, are extremely lucky. Most of us would give a treasured organ to have that sort of choice! Play every single one and choose the one that feels and sounds best to you. Don't worry if it's scratched or a bit bashed - as long as there isn't any major damage it's all repairable. If possible, get someone else to play while you stand 10ft away so you can hear what the bass really sounds like. [/quote] Thanks, yeah quite a stash of DBs - they are not top spec by means - I'm sure there will be one that suits- thanks for the links too.

Ok, thanks for the advice guys. Really as always. I'm thinking the 3/4 is the way to go - I'm lucky that my place of work backs onto the Lincolnshire Music Service rehearsal and storage rooms - I've a rack of double basses to play - I just need to pop in and have a play. I understand that the PUP thing is a dark art/ hotly debated. Maybe the style of music I'm playing will have a bearing on how expensive to go... I play in a unplugged Rolling stones tribute and a covers band with the DB. The DB is adding a really nice thump to the mix (I'm not slapping just Pizz and the occasionally arco (all that practicing with it and definitely going to get it in there somewhere!!) It's main rock stuff - we do a jazzy/ rocky version of tainted love for example and the walking bass in the pre chorus allows the song to peak and trough with its dynamics and timbre. As a result I don't think I neeed the purist of pure double bass tones if that makes sense and I'm not bastardising the use of the DB too much. Sorry if I am. Any chance you can link to where you can get the K&K and the Fishman Platinum Pro? Searching I'm seeing stuff that's similar but there are a range with all similar names etc. Kind regards, CM

Hey all, Some of you may remember that I was loaned a 1/2 size DB it have a play around with. Well, it didn't take long to get hooked - I've played fretless E-bass but the DB just gives me so much more freedom. The gig went down really well and had many comments on the bass, from different points of view as well. 1) sounded great - shocked with my make shift attempt at PUs I bought the J-tone reds and found that I got horrendous feedback at any sort of gigging voluming so I ended up getting an old bass pickup and placing it at the end of the fretboard. I put a piece of shaped hardboard under the fretboard and carefully zip tied it in place. The pickup sat on some foam and again zip tied. This was then fed into a Boss LS2 with the Jtone pickup and blended together on the A+B or Bypass mode. It didn't feedback once and meant I had enough back line to hear myself. 2) looked great on stage (I have practiced performing with the DB so I'm not just super rigid) So, I've been offered a bass at a cut price (it will be 2nd or 3rd hand - not that bothers me) - not discussed prices is yet but will do this week. As I'm plunging into this world I'm after some more dedicated kit. [color=#ff0000]Firstly - the bass I'm playing is a 1/2 size - being 5' 10" it's on the 3rd peg. I see everyone on here has a 3/4 or 4/4 - should I go for a 3/4 or a 4/4 - bigger bass more feedback issues? or is it just a size thing/ being comfortable thing? [/color] [color=#ff0000]Secondly - Pickup and preamp stuff - I know very little about this territory and having read around a little I see the fishman gets good reviews. I've a limited budget - probably around £300 - can anyone recommend?[/color] [color=#ff0000]Finally - Are there any other gadgets etc. that would be worth getting?[/color] I've a snark clip on tuner and Rufus Reid book/DVD that I practice with. Thanks in advance, CM

I'd rather have different sections for the specifics associated with the double bass/ EUB ie: General Qs - including noob stickies etc. Technique - No pain no gain type thread Amplification (including PUP/ Amps/ Cabs/ Live Sound) DIY - Solutions to get your DB/EUB optimum for your requirements

This thread has been very informative. Reading similar problems that I am having from different people in their own phrasing has really made me dig deeper. I found I was getting pain in my left arm - I thought it was part of hardening up to the beast - and have since adjusted my stance etc. to alleviate the pain. Suddenly, things became a little easier. Now the challenge is to keep that position consistently and move it into the subconscious. I found a good video on YT that discussed the action of the left hand and the need to use your larger chest and back muscles to support your playing. The analogy was moving a music stand. You could just grab it and sling it in the corner, or, you could do it gracefully with just two fingers and use other muscles to support lifting the same stand with your two digits. This made the penny drop a little for me. On the advice of members' I've purchased the "Evolving Bassist" book and DVD for £27 off Amazon. Even if the DB doesn't stay I'm sure it will help my EB and music theory advance. I've lucky enough to be able to secure a long term loan of a DB to have a real good stab at it. I'm three days in and hooked. It really is so rewarding almost to the point that playing fretted EB is like playing guitar hero on Playstation!

Thanks for this review. Just order the 'red' version. Just out of curiosity, do you have a'thickness' dimension for the pickup that slides between the wing and bridge. I have a set of callipers at home so it would be interesting to see what the fit will be like on mine. KR, CM

I really want to add some radius gauges/ string height rule and then some radius blocks to start off with. Fret pullers I've made as above. Thanks for the sites.

Thanks - what a website - if I was ever to walk into that as an actual shop I would need to remortgage the house. At least I'd have the tools to make a tiny replacement! Shame it is in the US. I don't mind paying for quality tools - some you can get as high quality (but cheaply) as it seems if you put 'Luthier' in front of tool it means you can double the price!

Hey all, I'm dabbling more and more in sorting my guitars (and friends) guitars out. I'm wondering if anyone knows of any packs/ sets from retailers that is a basic setup kit for basic Luthier type stuff. I've a possible bass defret and having read up on the process I would certainly beenfit from buying some extra tools. Is there a basic tool kit out there that you know of? TIA, CM